Reliability and Life Testing of Broadband Capacitors

Abstract: PPI broadband capacitors implement their RF function by packing an enormous amount of capacitance in ultra-small packages. The nickel electrodes, very high dielectric constants, and extremely small inter-electrode spacings all act to achieve the performance/price requirements … but also create behaviors that affect useful life. This application note examines and explains the failure modes and, particularly, emphasizes the required testing and resultant wear-out-region statistical analyses that must be done to accurately characterize the results.